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General discussion

When I connect my HDR-HC7, my comp/software doesnt recognize

Oct 11, 2007 3:42PM PDT

I spent months trying to figure out what camera to buy. I researched this website and it's forums up and down, as well as others, and I was finally convinced by users on this forum that Sony Handycam HDR-HC7 was the one for me. The main argument was that, unlike the hard drive version I initially wanted, it will be compatible with Final Cut Express HD.

So, I finally spend more than a thousand dollars on it, install my copy of FCE HD that's been sitting around, shoot some footage, plug in the camera into the computer and... nothing. I messed with the various settings in final cut for hours and still it told me that there was nothing connected to my computer. The computer itself didn't even do anything when I connected it with Final Cut Express not opened.

So, what the F is going on? Am I doing something wrong, or did I waste my money on a camera that does not work with my computer?

Furthermore (on a side note), I tried to hook it up to my HDTV to watch the footage and couldn't get it to work. Does any one know which cable to use?

Sorry for all the (possibly stupid) questions, but I am just upset that my brand new HD recorder is only allowing me to watch videos I shoot on it's 2 inch screen.

Please help me!!! Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Um... sorry to sound blunt, but have you read the manual?
Oct 11, 2007 11:20PM PDT

Transferring video from the camcorder to your computer:
This is done with FireWire. We know you have an Apple Macintosh because FinalCut is Mac-only. So we know you have a FireWire port. What would help is knowing what kind of Mac it is and what version Operating System you are running. Also, the FireWire cable is not included in the box with the camera, so you would need to buy one separately. 4-pin camera side; 6-pin computer side. FireWire, IEEE1394 and I.Link are all the same thing. The FireWire port is marked "DV" and is next to the USB port. The USB port is used ONLY to transfer stills.

In FCE's preferences, what do you have? Have you installed the Apple Intermediate Codec?

The computer will not "do anything when I connected it with Final Cut Express not opened". When the cabling is right and FCE is configured properly, you will use FCE to import the HD footage. The computer will not mount the camera or beep or provide you a dialog box that they are connected. None do.

Connecting to your HDTV:
Which connections are you using on your HDTV? Which connections are you using on the camera?

Assuming you are using the cable that came with the camera and it has Yellow (video)/red (right audio)/white (left audio) RCA connectors, and you are matching to the TV's composite Yellow/red/white RCA connectors, you need to select DV (not HDV) VCR in the camera menuing through the LCD panel. This will be standard definition playback of the footage in your camera.

If you are using the component connectors - Red-Green-Blue (all are video) and you are matching to the TV's Component RCA connectors, you need to select HDV (not DV) VCR in the camera menuing through the LCD panel. Note that the component video is VIDEO only - you will need the red and white connectors from the composite cable to get stereo audio from the camera to the TV. This will be in 1080i high def - presuming you captured it that way.

If you are using the HDMI connector, then that is a single cable from the camera to the HDTV for audio and video. This will be in 1080i high def - presuming you captured it that way. I believe that needs to be selected in the camera menuing as well.

In any case, the correct TV input needs to be selected on the TV, too...

If you can play back the footage on the camera on it's LCD panel, then you *should* be able to playback on a TV and transfer to a computer.

I'll check my settings on FinalCut Pro later, but let's at least get this playing on your TV first... baby steps...

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Some reference material...
Oct 12, 2007 2:03AM PDT

The FinalCut Express area of apple.com support/discussions has a lot of info... this thread looked helpful...

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=5036512&#5036512

I downloaded your HC7's manual from sony.com. If you do not have you manual, I suggest you download this - and read through it.
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model-documents.pl?mdl=HDRHC7&LOC=3

I did make one error - there is an iLink/IEEE1394/FireWire400 cable included in the box with the camera - but it will not work with your Mac - the included cable is 4-pin to 4-pin. You need to buy a 4-pin to 6-pin.

Page 35 refers to connecting your camera to a TV... an selecting the appropriate method and options... and the cable connections...

Please note that HDV will take up a lot of space on your Mac's hard drive. It is recommended that you have a different drive just for your video projects. Since we don't know what kind of Mac you have, I can't recommend an external FireWire400, external FireWire800 or internal drive - minimum size = 250 gig. One hour of imported Standard Definition video (4:3 or 16:9) will use about 11 gig-14 gig. One hour of 1080i High Definition Video will use about 32 gig-38 gig.

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As always, boya; you are the master.
Oct 12, 2007 4:18AM PDT

Thanks for the info. It will be a while before I have time to sift through it all, buy the extra cables, and try again, but I'll keep you updated.

Thanks again.

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Master I am not...
Oct 12, 2007 4:40AM PDT

Like yours, the camcorder and computer I use...

Wink

Yes, please, keep us posted... I *think* you only need one cable... the 4-pin (computer) to 6-pin (computer) FireWire/IEEE1394/iLink cable. I still need to check my FCP settings, but they are also at the Apple.com discussions link I shared.

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HDR-HC7
Jan 7, 2011 9:39PM PST

I am using a MacBook Pro i7 and it says on the apple website that the HDR-HC7 is not compatible with this computer. Now I have trouble trying to get my information out of the tapes. using iLink and iMovies 09'. iLink on the camera shows a connection when connected but nothing shown on the computer to allow me to transfer the movie.

Any suggestions?

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The Sony HDR-HC7 is just a HDV camcorder.
Jan 7, 2011 10:49PM PST

Please provide the link at the Apple website indicating it "not compatible with this computer".

I found
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3290#1
My iMac and MacBook Pro using FinalCut or iMovie work fine with my HDR-HC1 and HDR-FX1.

Assuming you have connected the HC7's 4-pin firewire DV port (not USB) to the MacBook Pro's 9-pin firewire port (not USB) with a firewire cable and the HC7 is in Play mode, launch iMovie and Import or capture the video. There is nothing on the camcorder to touch, change or "watch". iMovie (or Final Cut) control the camcorder over firewire when importing.

(i.LINK, firewire, DV and IEEE1394 are all the same thing. USB-to-firewire cable/adapter/converter things will not work.)

This also assumes the Firewire port on the MacBook Pro is active.

Nothing is going to "appear" on the Mac's desktop. This happens only with flash memory or hard disc drive media. Importing digital tape based, firewire connected camcorder's video is a real-time activity.